BIRDS. 



urnix communis, Bonnat. Common Quail. 



Evidence of former abundance. Now of uncertain visitation and 

 breeding. There is considerable evidence that Quails were far more 

 abundant in Scotland as far back as history almost can take us. 

 The old "Acts" of King James, which contain references to 

 "Phesanes" and Capercaillies, also have it: "Quails, vMch are so 

 much decayed of late " (italics are mine — J. A. H.-B.), and there are 

 various other mentions of the bird. 



Coming to later dates. Col. Drummond Hay says : "Formerly it 

 Avas of regular migration in the Carse of Cowrie, where it bred. 

 The last nest known to me was in the garden hedge at Manse of 

 Errol in 1832, since when it has been hardly seen." 



Localities and dates given for its appearances are as follows : 

 Burrelwell, April 1844; Dysart, Aug. 1884; Brakie, 1879; one shot 

 on Loch Tay by Mr. D. Dewar, 1893 ; Auchengarroch, 4th Sept. 

 1893 (auct. A. B. Crake, Annals Scot. Nat. Hist., 1893, p. 225); 

 Stobhall, some twenty years previous to 1901 — say 1881 ; the last 

 seen by Mr. Nicol Simpson, he tells me, was shot at Laurencekirk 

 nearly twenty years ago, and "is the only instance of its appearance 

 I can submit" {Annals Scot. Nat. Hist, 1900, p. 199). 



Dr. Dewar has it mentioned simply as " Occasional in the east of 

 Forfar." 



Other localities where specimens have been obtained are : near 

 Blairgowrie (1832), St. Andrews, Strathmiglo, Fife (see Cat. Old Soc. 

 Perth Museum^ 1881, p. 92), Meigle, etc., etc. 



For the following accounts of the Quail in the north-east of 

 Fife I am indebted to my friend Mr. Wm. Berry, and I cannot do 

 better than give his information in his own words as follows : — 



Tatfield, Newport, Fife, 

 3rc? Fehruary 1905. 



Dear Mr. Harvie-Brown, — I have now collected all the information I 

 can about Quails, and it tabulates as follows : — 



1861. Covey of seven at Fordelhill, near Leuchars, Fife. Two shot by 

 John Fowlis. 



1864. (dr.) One seen on Morton, near Tayport, Fife, and fired at, but not 



secured. (Teste, John Fowlis.) 



1865. Two shot by Alex. Eobertson, Esq. (Sheriff-Substitute of Forfar), of 



Burnside, at Forest Muir, on Glamis Estate ; set up, and now 

 at Burnside. 



1893. (cir.) One was shot at Glenbervie, Kincardineshire, reported to me by 



